Rake.



No. 853,502. PATBNTED MAY 14, 1907. E. W. DOWD.

RARE.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. a1, 190B.

, TyU/m//fys ELMER w. Down, or OTTAWA, KANSAS.

RAKE- Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 14, 1907.

Application filed August 31, 1906. Serial No. 332.850.

To all whom t muy concern:

Bc it known that I, ELMER W. Down, a citizen of the United States,residing at Ottawa, in the county of Franklin and State of Kansas, haveinvented a new and useful Rake, ofv which the following is aspecification.

This invention relates to a combined rake and has i'or its object toprovide a comparatively simple and inexpensive device of this characterprincipally designed for sweeping or raking grass, leaves and otherdebris from lawns, and similar grass-plots.

A further object of the invention is to provide a rake the teeth ortines of which are curved laterally and spaced apart by a transverseconnecting bar, the latter being slidably mounted on said tines andadjustable vertically oi' the rake' whereby the rigidity of the teethmay be regulated at will.

A further object is to provide a rake the teeth of which are mounted forindependent vertical movement on the rake-head thus permitting anyparticular' set of teeth to be raised or lowered independently of theadjacent teeth when using the rake for weeding purposes.

A further object of the invention is to generally improve this class ofdevices so as to increase their utility, durability and eflciency aswell as to reduce the cost of manufacture.

With these and other objects in view the invention consists in theconstruction and novel combination and arrangement of parts hereinafterfully described, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, it beingunderstood that various changes 1n form, proportions and minor detailsof construction may be resorted to within the scope of the appendedclaims.

In the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification:Figure 1 is a front elevation of a rake constructed in accord-` oppositelongitudinal edges of which are bent laterally to forni spaced flanges 6having alined openings 7 formed therein for the reception of the teethor tines 8.

Secured to the rear face ofthe plate 5 in any suitable manner as byrivets or similar fastening devices 8 are metal straps 9, anintermediate portion of each of which is spaced from the plate 5 to forma socket for the re.

ception of a handle 10. l

The tines 8 are each preferably formed of a single piece of wire bentupon itself as indicated at 11 to form spaced parallel arms the ends ofwhich are bent laterally as indicated at 12 thereby to prevent the teethor tines from digging up the grass when raking the latter.

The tines 8 are mounted for independent longitudinal movement on therake-head 5 so that any particular set .of tines may be adjustedvertically thereby to vary the Width of the rake and thus permit thelatter to be used for weeding purposes. One of the parallel armscomprlsing each tine 8 is provided with an offset or loop 13 whichengages the walls of the erforation 7 in one of the flanges 6 thus locing the tines in lowered or operative position.

In order to elevate any particular tine it is merely necessary to exerta straight upward pull on the closed end 11 of the tine thus withdrawingthe loop 13 from the adjacent perforation inthe head of the rake andpermitting the tine to be` adjusted longitudinally of the latter.

Extending transversely across the tines 8 and spaced from the head 5 isa connecting bar 14 having its opposlte iianges 15 provided with alinedperforations 16 for the reception of the tines 8. mounted forlongitudinal movement on the tines 8 and is held in en agement therewithby frictional contact so t at by adjusting the bar longitudinally of therake-head the rigidity of the teeth or tinesmay be regulated at willthus adapting the rake for different ur oses.

Tiie device has the function and effect of both a broom andr rake andwill be found particularly useful for gathering leaves on lawns or forraking {lower-beds, weeding gardens, stirring straw in stables and thelike.

From the foregoing descri tion it will be seen that there is provide anextremely simple, inexpensive and efficient device adreferably formed ofangle iron and The connecting bar 14 is slidably mirably adapted for theattainment of the ends in view.

Having thus described 1the invention what is claimed is:

1. A rake comprising a handle, a plate secured to the handle andprovided with spaced perforated flanges, and a plurality of' ver-4adapted to bear against the Walls of the per-A forations, a transverseconnecting bar provided with longitudinal flanges having alinedperforations formed therein for the reception of the tines, said barbeing adjustable longitudinally of the rake, and an operating handleengaging said loop and extending in the saine longitudinal plane Withthe tines.

3. A rake comprising a handle, a plate secured to the handle andprovided with spaced perforated flanges, a plurality of verticallyadjustable tines passing through the perforations in the flanges andprovided with laterallyT extending loops engaging the Walls 5 of theperforations for locking the tines in lowered position, and an operatinghandle secured to the plate and extending in the saine longitudinalplane With the tines.

4. A rake head comprising a handle, a plate secured to and extendedtransversely ol theA handle and provided with spaced perforated flanges,a plurality ol vertically adjustable tines passing through theperforations in the Aflanges and provided with laterally extending loopsengaging the walls ol said perforations for locking the tines in loweredposition, a transverse bar slidahly mounted on the tines and spaced fromthe plate, said handle being extended in the same longitudinal planewith the tines.

5. A rake coinprising a hand lc, a plate sccured` to the handle andhaving perorat-ions formed therein, a plurality of vertically adjustabletines passing through the perforations in the plate and provided withlaterally extending loops engaging the walls of said perforations forlooking the tines in lowered position, a transverse bar slidably mountedon the tines and provided with spaced perforated flanges adapted toreceive the tines, said handle being secured to the plate and extendedin the saine longitudinal plane with the tines.

In testimony that I yclaim the foregoing as my own, I have hereto aliXedmy signature in the presence of two witnesses.

ELI-limit YY. DO'WD.

Iitnesses LOGAN H. MAUPIN. Gli-ones H. Morne.

